FOOD: Gone for the Duration

At Manhattan's Hotel Astor last week 300 spicemen topped off a three-day conclave with a savory, super-spiced banquet costing $10.12 a plate. But the very spices they were eating might not be replaceable until war's end. The spice industry is the No. 1 example of a business where shortages will soon be complete, with no recourse to ersatz. Some examples: > Before the war, sage was plucked by Greek and Yugoslav goatherders. With these sources out, U.S. trade prices have risen from 7¢ to $1.35 a pound. When spice-grinders tried to use wild California sage instead, it could not...